Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Select the Right One Near Redding California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Redding CA might at first seem like a challenging task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Redding CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Redding CA labs or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered

An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Redding CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Redding CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Redding CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Redding CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Redding CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Redding CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Redding CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Redding CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Redding CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Redding

Enroll in the Best Redding Veterinary Technologist Program

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Redding California.

 

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